Jenny sighed as she ran her hands through her hair, trying to untangle the knots. She had just gotten finished with a 14 hour shift, and she was beyond exhausted. She was so tired, she could barely see straight.
She yawned as she placed her coat on the coat rack behind her door before she grabbed her phone, purse and keys.
She made sure to lock the door on her way out, and she made her way down the hallway. She walked across the parking lot and got to her car and slid in.
She checked her phone and tried to keep the sigh of disappointment out of her voice when she noticed that Mark hadn’t called.
Not that she should’ve expected him to. She knew of course that he would need some time to process what she had said, but wasn’t 14 hours at least partially enough to know if you wanted to be in your kids life?
It was a no brainer surely, but then again, she didn’t really know Mark well enough to know if he’d make the right decision. The right decision to him could be staying out of his son’s life, so his son wouldn’t have to be in the press, but that would mean missing out on his childhood, and as exhausting as being a parent is, Jenny wouldn’t have traded that for the world.
She grabbed her seatbelt, switched on the ignition and drove towards her mums house where Noah was staying.
***
She inserted the key into the lock and stepped into her childhood home a few minutes later. The smell of freshly baked cookies immediately assaulted her senses, and Jenny inhaled the scent, wondering if she could possibly scoff down a few without being scolded by her mother.
“Noah, Mom,” she called out as she shrugged out of her coat and placed it on the couch.
“Mommy,” a little 5-year-old shouted as a warm body barreled into her. Jenny gazed at the face of her son, so like his fathers with his shaggy hair and green eyes, but he had inherited his mother’s red hair, and it suited his face perfectly.
Jenny ran her hands through his russet hair and smiled as he gazed up at her.
“How was your day, my darling?”
“Grandma and I made cookies,” he announced proudly as he held up one to his mother for inspection. Jenny pretended to inspect it before she nodded in approval.
“Great job, honey. It looks delicious.”
Noah gazed around as if wanting to make sure they were alone before he gestured for Jenny to lower her head. Jenny crouched down in front of him, and he put his lips to her ear. “Mummy, I’m going to give you a small piece to try out.”
He gazed around one more before he broke off a tiny piece and slipped it into his mother’s mouth. Jenny chewed slowly, her heart swelling with love for this little boy who was the light of her life.
“Why are you so quiet in there?” A female voice came from inside.
Jenny and Noah froze as they both took in the sight of Jenny’s mother-Clarisse-standing above them with a mock frown on her lips. Her red hair was hanging in loose curls around her heart shaped face, and her hazel eyes sparkled with mirth.
“Now, now, Noah, you know what I said about sneaking in a cookie before dinner,” Clarisse said disapprovingly.
“I’m sorry, grandma,” Noah hung his head shamefully as he shuffled awkwardly from one foot to the next.
“Go wash your hands and go to the kitchen, so you can help me bring in the food.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he tore out of the living room and made a beeline for the bathroom.
Clarisse shook her head as she embraced her only daughter and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Really, honey, must you spoil him?”
Jenny tossed her head back and laughed. “Actually, he was spoiling me, I was the one who took a piece of that cookie.”
“You don’t say.” Clarisse placed her hands on her hips as she pursed her lips thoughtfully. “So the boy isn’t afraid to cover for someone he loves, an admirable trait no doubt.”
Jenny grinned. “He’s one of a kind, isn’t he?”
They both shared a knowing smile as they made their way to the kitchen, and the three of them set up the table as they waited for Jenny’s father to walk in.
He walked in a while later and dropped a quick kiss on Jenny’s head before he poked Noah in the side.
They all sat down and a steady stream of conversation began as they all indulged in a nice family meal.
***
Jenny juggled the keys and her son’s sleeping form as she tried to get the front door to open. She had finally succeeded in getting the key into the lock, but couldn’t quite make the door budge open.
She huffed in irritation as she wondered if maybe she could lay Noah down on the grass for a second then pick him up again when the door was open.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a familiar voice said. “Let me.”
Jenny wheeled around in fright, her heart pounding in her chest before she noticed that it was just Mark, standing there looking sheepish.
“Jesus, Mark, you scared me,” she whispered. “At least announce yourself next time.”
“Well, I was just about to offer my help, but I was watching you fumble adorably for a few minutes.”
Jenny scowled at him as he pushed the door open and gestured for her to go through. Jenny walked in, and Mark helped her switch on the lights.
Once his eyes took in the sleeping form, his entire stance softened, and he stared at him in wonder as if he couldn’t quite believe that this little boy was his.
“Can I be the one to carry him upstairs?” Mark asked quietly.
Jenny stared at him quietly for a minute before she handed him Noah. She helped him adjust Noah before leading the way to the bedroom down the hall.
They worked quietly together, making sure Noah was in his pajamas and tucked in safely. Mark brushed his hair out of his eyes and smiled a soft smile that had Jenny’s heart hoping that maybe, just maybe, he actually did want to be a part of this little boy’s life.
She motioned for him to come outside, and he cast one last lingering look before he exited. She left the door open just enough to hear him if he needed her and beckoned Mark into the hallway.
“Not that I don’t appreciate the help earlier, but what are you doing here, Mark?”
“I’m sorry I ran out so quickly earlier. I was just in shock, but I had some time to think about it, and I want to be a part of Noah’s life.”
Jenny watched him carefully. “Are you sure you’re not just saying that because you want to sleep with me?”
Mark laughed. “Well, I won’t deny that I want you as well. I want to be in both your lives Jenny, if you’ll let me. I don’t know the first thing about being a father, and I know you deserve so much better than me, but I want to try. Please let me try.”
Jenny looked at him for a long moment without speaking. Long enough that Mark began to fidget. His green eyes met hers in a direct stare, and Jenny could see the sincerity reflected in them.
“I’m going to go take a shower, then how about we have some dinner?” she said finally.
Mark nodded cautiously. “I’d like that.”
Jenny gestured towards the living room. “Make yourself at home.”
Mark plopped down onto the couch and grabbed the remote and began channel surfing. Jenny hurried up the stairs wondering what on earth they’d talk about, but she knew that she wanted to try, and even if it didn’t work out between them, she’d make sure he stayed in Noah’s life. He needed his father after all.
Jenny stripped and as she waited for the water to heat up, she began to wash her face carefully. She stepped into the shower a while later, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips as the hot water cascaded down her back.
She began to lather her hair with shampoo and running her hands down her body to wash herself. She gave a startled gasp when a pair of hands began to massage her shoulders.
She wheeled around and came face to face with Mark who was standing there, dripping wet and fully naked.
“What are you - ” she trailed off as he grabbed a loofa and began to gently scrub her body.
“Let me take care of you,” he said simply.
Jenny let her head roll back as he carefully washed every nook and cranny over her body making her grow more and more aroused by the second.
Jenny noticed, much to her chagrin, that he was careful not to touch her breasts nor her center, and she was feeling rather frustrated at that.
He bent down and began to kiss her center, and a moan escaped Jenny’s lips as he began to lick. She grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked him up, so he was kissing her lips instead.
Mark groaned as he pushed her back against the wall. As the hot water slid off their bodies, their kissing began to grow more and more fervent, and their hands began to grow bolder.
Jenny placed her hands on his hips and shoved him closer hoping he’d get the hint. He growled in the back of his throat before he wrenched his lips away and began to kiss his way down her neck. He took one nipple between his mouth and began to suck on it so hard that Jenny’s eyes were rolling in the back of her head.
Meanwhile his other hand was making its trail down south. Jenny left one hand playing with the hair on the nape of his neck, while the other hand made its way down and began to stroke him until he stopped what he was doing and bucked against her hands.
He grabbed both her hands and raised them over her head, so she was helpless to his touch. He began to kiss her neck slowly, sucking and biting until he left his mark. He moved down and began to kiss and suck on her breasts till Jenny’s body began to writhe in pleasure. He moved down and kissed her stomach until he finally stopped above her center.
He released her wrists and brought one leg up, so it was hooked around his. He gently nudged her legs apart and looked her directly in the eye before he thrust into her with one quick movement.
They both moaned at the contact, and at first they set up a steady pace where Mark would slowly pull out then slam back into her causing both of them the maximum amount of pleasure.
Eventually, Jenny began to claw on his back letting him know that she wanted more, and Mark wanted more too. He began to grind into her, harder and harder until they both began to scream in ecstasy.
Mark carried her out of the shower a while later, both of them getting dressed and crawling into bed next to each other as they lay there feeling completely and blissfully spent.
They drifted off knowing that tomorrow was a new start for all of them.
THE END